– Investigators have publicly identified the two men who died last week in a head-on collision when they reportedly were driving the wrong way on a state highway in Wauconda.
Twenty-five-year-old Kyle J. DeKruif, of Island Lake, and 24-year-old Montana R. Brown, of Gurnee, both died from wounds sustained in the wreck, which was reported early Thursday morning on a stretch of Illinois 12, the Wauconda Police Department reported. No other injuries were listed in car accident reports.
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Police said DeKruif at about 2:15 a.m. was driving his vehicle southbound in the northbound lanes of Illinois 12 with Brown as his passenger. He eventually collided head-on with a delivery truck that was driving north, according to car accident reports.
DeKruif and Brown succumbed to their wounds at the scene before they could be transported to a hospital for treatment, authorities said. It is unclear from car accident reports released Tuesday whether the delivery truck driver, whom authorities did not publicly identify, was injured.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Investigators have not yet said if they have determined why DeKruif was driving in the wrong direction on the highway, nor have they said whether they suspect intoxication or speed might have contributed to the crash.
Several of DeKruif’s family and friends shared tribues and memories on Facebook.
“I will miss the way you could light up a room and capture everyone’s hearts without even trying,” wrote one person, who described DeKruif as her cousin.
An obituary published in DeKruif’s memory said the Island Lake man enjoyed “music, cars, food and vacationing with his family.”
“He will be remembered for his huge heart, contagious smile, booming voice, big bear hugs and caring personality,” family members wrote in the obituary.
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